Lot 1468
Oviraptor Dinosaur Egg. This original, fully inflated, unhatched Oviraptor egg is 70-80 million years old from the Djadokhta formation of Ukhaa Tolgod of Mongolia. This dark brown fully prepped egg was found in the Gobi desert and is a huge 7.5 inches long and 3.5 inches wide with over 85% of the original shell on the top side and about 30 % shell on the bottom side of the egg which is still preserved in its original red stone matrix. The mineral layers of matrix on top of the eggs has been carefully airbrushed off. This museum quality egg belongs to the largest of the two Oviraptor species called Citipati to distinguish this difference from the other smaller species. Citipati Oviraptorids were made famous by the nest of eggs with the mother Citipati sitting on top of the eggs in a brooding position. This famous specimen is displayed in the New York Museum of Natural History and was discovered in 1995. It was revolutionary to discover a dinosaur sitting on top of its eggs like a bird and only later was it discovered that Oviraptors such as Citipati also had feathers like a bird. Citipati eggs are ratite in texture and have a very thin shell which is why they are rarely found complete. This complete unhatched egg could contain some embryonic bones inside as typically, about 20% of the unhatched Oviraptor eggs contain some embryonic bones. The bones are always disarticulated and usually are jumbled together in a small area. This egg is special even if it does not contain any embryonic bones, because it has sharp shell detail, is uncrushed.and has not been flattened like most of the Oviraptor eggs available.
Add $25 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $1,300 - 1,800.
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| Realized $892 |
